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Ladysmith Black Mambazo Notes.Indd CAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS Th ursday, March , , pm ladysmith black mambazo city of Durban, which provided him the oppor- Zellerbach Hall tunity to seek work in a factory. Leaving the fam- Mention African song and most people think of ily farm was not easy, but it was during this time South African practitioners of the vocal arts— that Joseph fi rst showed a talent for singing. After Solomon Linda, Miriam Makeba and, perhaps singing with several groups in Durban, he returned Ladysmith Black Mambazo more than anyone else in recent memory, Ladysmith to his hometown of Ladysmith and began to put Black Mambazo. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has together groups of his own. come to represent the traditional culture of South He was rarely satisfi ed with the results. “I felt Africa. Th ey are regarded as South Africa’s cultural there was something missing…. I tried to teach the emissaries at home and around the world. In , music that I felt, but I failed until , when a at Nelson Mandela’s request, Black Mambazo harmonious dream came to me. I always heard the accompanied the future President to the Nobel harmony from that dream and I said ‘Th is is the Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Mambazo sound that I want and I can teach it to my guys.’” sang again at President Mandela’s inauguration in In the early years, Joseph recruited members May . Th ey are a national treasure of the new of his family, and friends—brothers Headman and South Africa, in part because they embody the Jockey, cousins Albert and Abednego Mazibuko traditions suppressed in the old South Africa. and others. Joseph taught the group the harmonies It has been nearly years since Paul Simon from his dreams. With time and patience, Joseph’s made his initial trip to South Africa and met Jo- work began to gel into a special sound. seph Shabalala and the other members of Lady- Th e name Ladysmith Black Mambazo came smith Black Mambazo in a recording studio in about as a result of winning every singing com- Johannesburg. Having listened to a cassette of petition in which the group entered. “Ladysmith” their music sent by a D.J. based in Los Angeles, is the hometown of the Shabalala family; “Black” Simon was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, makes reference to black oxen, considered to be the alto and tenor harmonies. Simon incorporated the strongest on the farm. Th e Zulu word “Mambazo” traditional sounds of black South Africa into the refers to an ax—symbolic of the group’s ability to Graceland album, a project regarded by many as “chop down” the competition. So good were they, seminal to today’s explosive interest in World Mu- that after a time they were forbidden to enter the sic. competitions but welcomed, of course, to enter- Th e traditional music sung by Ladysmith Black tain at them. Mambazo is called isicathamiya (meaning “on tip- A radio broadcast in brought about their toe”) and was born in the mines of South Africa. fi rst recording contract. Since then, the group has recorded more than albums, selling over six Joseph Shabalala Black workers were taken by rail to work far away from their homes and their families. Poorly housed million records at home and abroad and establish- Msizi Shabalala and paid worse, they would entertain themselves ing themselves as the number-one selling musical Russel Mthembu after a six-day week by singing songs into the wee group from Africa. Th eir work with Paul Simon Albert Mazibuko hours every Sunday morning. Cothoza Mfana they attracted a world of fans that never knew that the sounds of Zulu harmony could be so captivating. Th ulani Shabalala called themselves, “tip-toe guys,” referring to the dance steps choreographed so as to not disturb the Th eir fi rst album released in the United States, Th amsanqa Shabalala camp security guards. When miners returned to Shaka Zulu, was produced by Simon and won the Sibongiseni Shabalala the homelands, the tradition returned with them. Grammy Award in for Best Traditional Folk Abednego Mazibuko Th ere began a fi erce but social competition held Recording. Since then, they have been nominated regularly and a highlight of everyone’s social cal- for a Grammy Award eight additional times. In endar. Th e winners were awarded a goat for their , they were awarded their second Grammy eff orts and, of course, the adoration of their fans. Award for Best Traditional World Music Record- Cal Performance dedicates this concert to the memory of Jockey Shabalala. Th ese competitions are held even today in YMCA ing for the release Raise Your Spirit Higher. On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, a docu- Th is performance is made possible, in part, by the generous support of the members of the assembly halls and church basements throughout mentary fi lm which is the story of Joseph Shabalala Cal Performances Producers Circle and Friends of Cal Performances. “Zululand.” In the mid-s, Joseph Shabalala took ad- and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated Cal Performances thanks our Centennial Season Sponsor, Wells Fargo. vantage of his proximity to the urban sprawl of the for an Academy Award as Best Short Documen- 20 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 21 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS tary Film in and an Emmy Award in and now the Queen of England. It is quite a dream continue to spread the word of Joseph’s dream of ter are a virtual who’s who of South African artists, for Best Cultural Documentary on American tele- for a Zulu South African to dream.” preservation through education while encouraging such as Lucky Dube, Bhekumunzi Luthuli, Vusi vision. Th e group has also performed at two Nobel all those who can, to give their support. Mahlasela, Hugh Masekela, Nokukhanya, Phuez- Th e group has also recorded with numerous Peace Prize Ceremonies, a performance Pope John Joseph’s appointment as an associate profes- khemisi and Th andiswa. artists from around the world besides Paul Simon. Paul II in Rome, South African Presidential inau- sor of ethno musicology at the University of Natal Th e track sequence follows the chronology of Some of these include Stevie Wonder, Dolly Par- gurations, the Summer Olympics, a Muham- as well as a recent teaching position with UCLA their extensive history of recording, beginning with ton, Ben Harper, Th e Wynans and George Clin- mad Ali television special, music award shows from in California, has given him a taste of the life of “Nomathemba,” the hit song originally released in ton. Th eir fi lm work includes a featured appear- around the world, and many other special events. a scholar. “It’s just like performing,” says Joseph. on the group’s Amabutho album. Th e album ance in Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker and Spike In summer , Mambazo was again asked to “You work all day, correcting the mistakes, encour- closes with “Th ula Th ula,” a new composition not Lee’s Do It A Cappella. Mambazo has provided represent their nation in London for a celebration aging the young ones to be confi dent in their ac- previously heard on any Mambazo album. Th is soundtrack material for Disney’s Th e Lion King II, for Queen Elizabeth II’s th anniversary as mon- tion. And if they do not succeed I always criticize simple song features the lone voice of Mambazo Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America, Marlon Bran- arch, dubbed “Th e Party at the Palace.” Ladysmith myself. I am their teacher. Th ey are willing to learn. leader and founder Joseph Shabalala, who displays do’s A Dry White Season, James Earl Jones’s Cry the Black Mambazo joined with Eric Clapton, Rod But it is up to me to see they learn correctly.” the broad dynamic range and emotional depth that Beloved Country and Sean Connery’s League of Ex- Stewart, Phil Collins and Sir Paul McCartney on Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s new album, Long has served as the driving force behind his history- traordinary Gentlemen. the Beatles songs “Hey Jude” and “All You Need Walk to Freedom, was released in January . making a cappella group for more than years. Th eir list of advertisements include award-win- Is Love.” After the concert members of the group Th e album is a collection of new recordings of Th e story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo is ning commercials for -Up and Life Savers Candy, joined a private party in Buckingham Palace, where classic Mambazo songs, featuring guest vocal per- about more than just music. It is about the historic as well as an “on camera” appearance for an IBM they engaged in private conversations with Prince formances by some of the most progressive voices struggle of a great nation. Much of that rich and television campaign, “Solutions for a Small Planet.” Charles, his sons, Princes William and Harry, and of the contemporary pop music scene, including bittersweet history is captured on this new record- In , Heinz Beans UK used a Mambazo song Prime Minister Tony Blair. Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, ing. Ladysmith Black Mambazo invites the audi- for a television advertisement that was so popular, Time does not seem to be slowing down the Joe McBride, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant ence to join them and their cadre of stellar guests it helped the group’s CD at that time sell over one group as they continue to travel the world, meet- and Zap Mama. Also appearing on the guest ros- on the Long Walk to Freedom.
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